Wednesday, March 11, 2015

The Illusion of Life, Chapter 1: Communication

In class, we discussed Pixar’s “Luxo Jr.” animation; an animation in which a parent lamp watching a young lamp play with a ball.  This animation is short, but it communicates to the audience.  The characters are relatable, and the story is one that while short, is memorable and conveys an emotion.  This is something that is introduced in the first chapter of “The Illusion of Life, Disney Animation.”  What is so important about animation, and what strikes me so much with Luxo Jr. is outlined in the text: 

“Conveying a certain feeling is the essence of communication in any art form.  The response of the viewer is an emotional one, because art speaks to the heart.  This gives animation an almost magical ability to reach inside any audience and communicate with all peoples everywhere, regardless of language barriers.  It is one of animation’s greatest strengths…” (15)

It is important to understand the importance of communication in studying animation; this is what makes great animations so memorable.  A story must be told, and it must communicate a feeling for the audience.  Even something so simple as lamps hopping around can do this, when done right.



Thomas, Frank, and Ollie Johnston. "An Art Form Is Born." Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life. New York: Abbeville, 1981. 15. Print.

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